Most movie historians, different pundits, and followers alike have debated advert nauseam the best yr in movie historical past. There’s not a transparent consensus save maybe for 1939, however different years within the dialogue usually embody 1967, 1975, 1982, 1984, 1994, and 1999. Some twelve-month time spans from the twenty-first century get thrown into the combo as nicely, like 2007 and 2014.
But one argument that doesn’t get debated wherever close to as typically are the given months inside a person yr. Imagine the age-old state of affairs of a pal asking: if you happen to can return in time, the place would you go? Well, think about going again to a solitary week of a given yr when a few of your favourite movies ever made have been all in theaters without delay. That may very well be the case for a lot of months in cinema historical past, which might clearly have extra choices than the years themselves.
Perhaps essentially the most adorned month in U.S. cinematic historical past — when accounting for the official theatrical launch date of a given movie — can be December 2001. There are clearly many months that rival it. But when contemplating the amount of cash accrued from these movies, the quantity of accolades at main award ceremonies, and the general high quality of the tasks themselves, it must be abundantly clear that the month at hand was the very best high quality that American cinema has ever supplied.
Not to say the truth that there was one thing for each movie fan right here. Whether you like warfare films, sports activities flicks, action-packed adventures, or romps via iconic fantasy landscapes, December 2001 had an excellent number of style, which ought to undoubtedly play a component in figuring out the best month.
Other Impressive Months Throughout American Cinema
One of the sooner months in cinema historical past with a number of notable films in theaters without delay was August 1967. Audiences had the luxurious of selecting between In the Heat of the Night (1967), Bonnie and Clyde (1967), and Point Blank (1967). All three of these movies have since been preserved by the Library of Congress within the National Film Registry, which might very nicely be a file.
Then in December of ’73, moviegoers loved crime movies like Serpico (1973) with Al Pacino and The Sting (1973) with each Paul Newman and Robert Redford. There was additionally the critically acclaimed, supernatural horror movie The Exorcist (1973), able to scare the pants off of everybody in attendance. And precisely one yr later, Black Christmas (1974) had the identical impact as a fan-favorite slasher.
Other movies from December of ’74 included Young Frankenstein (1974), The Towering Inferno (1974), Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974), and most notably The Godfather: Part II (1974). That’s some nice number of style, with some absolute classics thrown into the combo. And, talking of: May 1980 had two classics of the horror style, and some of the influential science fiction movies ever made.
The two horror movies have been Friday the thirteenth (1980) and The Shining (1980), whereas the sci-fi challenge was after all The Empire Strikes Back (1980). Not a lot must be mentioned about any of these three movies — they’re three of the preferred movies ever made, to be frank, and save for Friday the thirteenth, they’re additionally among the many highest rated. Not fairly sufficient selection or quantity, although. But (yet another time) talking of style: June 1982 featured 5 absolute juggernauts of science fiction.
Poltergeist (1982), Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn (1982), Blade Runner (1982), The Thing (1982), and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) have been all obtainable for public viewing inside the identical four-week interval. There’s by no means been a extra stacked yr for that individual style, and all 5 of these tasks performed an excellent half in popularizing that prospect. Still, although: not sufficient selection to be thought of one of the best.
June 1989 had an incredible stability of success. Critics raved about movies like Dead Poets Society (1989) and Do the Right Thing (1989), whereas audiences traveled en masse to see Ghostbusters II (1989), Batman (1989), and Honey I Shrunk the Kids (1989). Of course, these industrial successes have been of relative high quality, too.
Once the trade moved nearer to the twenty-first century, extra movies have been being pumped out from round each nook of the United States. Thus, clearly, extra months all through cinema historical past grew to become stacked with well-liked titles. Therefore, the next thirty-day time frames have been much more spectacular not simply by way of style selection, but additionally concerning the essential reception, accrued accolades, and success in theaters.
The Months That Truly Competed with December 2001
Off the bat, it’s value noting that December is maybe essentially the most stacked month all through the historical past of cinema within the United States. So, in different phrases, Hollywood typically spoils moviegoers with presents as soon as Christmas rolls round. In December 1997, you can benefit from the felony stints of Jackie Brown (1997), the self-referential scares of Scream 2 (1997), or the in-cage pleasure of The Boxer (1997).
But there have been additionally a number of Oscar darlings and monetary juggernauts like Good Will Hunting (1997), As Good as It Gets (1997), Wag the Dog (1997), and the transcendental Titanic (1997). And most of these have been of absolutely the highest high quality. Then, maintaining with the pattern of gift-giving, the subsequent month value noting is December 1999.
This yr is commonly thought to be among the finest in historical past, and most of the tasks from this closing month contributed significantly to that success. The Cider House Rules (1999), The Green Mile (1999), Magnolia (1999), The Hurricane (1999), and The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) all featured a few of the most interesting performances of your entire decade, and the general merchandise have been glorious in themselves.
And that isn’t even to say different hits like Man on the Moon (1999), Girl, Interrupted (1999), and Galaxy Quest (1999). Then three years later, sticking with the identical month as soon as once more, December 2002 gave the yr at hand maybe the truest run for its cash. Just one yr aside, too.
Nine totally different movies from this month acquired nominations on the Academy Awards. In reality, between all 9 movies, they have been nominated for a mixed 59 out of 112 obtainable awards, with 16 of 24 wins. How is that doable? Well, not all of the movies from that ceremony aged significantly nicely, however some titles certain did, equivalent to Adaptation (2002), Gangs of New York (2002), Catch Me if You Can (2002), The Pianist (2002), and naturally The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002).
That’s a loopy lineup, and there would nonetheless be 5 movies value writing house about if it wasn’t paramount to acknowledge November 2012. There are solely 5 well-known titles, however they’re all absolute masterpieces: Flight (2012), Lincoln (2012), Skyfall (2012), Life of Pi (2012), and Silver Linings Playbook (2012). Talk about high quality — and, there was additionally the underrated playing movie Killing Them Softly (2012). All of these tasks have been extremely adorned, with 38 Oscar nominations and 9 wins.
Two years later in October 2014, nicely acclaimed administrators like Damien Chazelle and Alexandro Gonzales Iñárritu each launched their respective masterpieces in Whiplash (2014) and Birdman; or, the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance (2014). Meanwhile, David Fincher put out one other stellar thriller in Gone Girl (2014). There was additionally Fury (2014), a warfare movie with Brad Pitt, John Wick (2014), one of many highest-rated motion movies of the century, and Last Shift (2014), an underrated psychological horror movie.
The closing month value noting is November 2017: and, no, that’s not simply concerning the discharge of Thor: Ragnarök (2017) inside the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There have been additionally Oscar darlings like Darkest Hour (2017), Call Me By Your Name (2017), Lady Bird (2017), and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017). And after accounting for Pixar’s latest masterpiece Coco (2017), there’s little doubt this month ought to go down in historical past. But ultimately, one stands out amongst all of them.
December 2001 — Why It Stands Out
If field workplace success pique your curiosity, look no additional than The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001). Although the ultimate entry of Peter Jackson’s acclaimed fantasy trilogy is cited by many followers as one of the best challenge therein, Fellowship holds up maybe higher than the others because of its rock-solid narrative construction in tandem with the wit of its script.
Its actors carried out splendidly, too, and truthfully, hundreds of extra phrases may very well be written house concerning the standard thereof. But one other industrial hit was Ocean’s Eleven (2001), Steven Soderbergh’s heist movie that garnered $450 million on an $85 million funds. It gathered one in every of cinema’s most star-studded casts to realize essential acclaim, too — as did Black Hawk Down (2001), Ridley Scott’s seminal warfare movie.
Those are three disparate genres off the bat that every one succeeded throughout the board of essential and industrial success. But there was additionally Michael Mann’s sports activities movie Ali (2001), a science fiction challenge in Vanilla Sky (2001) with Tom Cruise, and a little bit of romance for the combo by the use of Monster’s Ball (2001). None of these three held up significantly nicely in comparison with every part else coated from this month, however all of them featured phenomenal performances with appearing nominations on the Oscars for every.
And then there have been a number of slices of life equivalent to No Man’s Land (2001), Iris (2001), A Beautiful Mind (2001), Gosford Park (2001), I Am Sam (2001), and The Royal Tenenbaums (2001). That final one stands out as some of the underrated movies touched on all through all of the aforementioned months, and it stays one of the best movie of American auteur Wes Anderson’s profession even after thirty years on the Hollywood scene.
And, lastly with regard to style: in case your children watched cartoons of their free time, there have been even animated options equivalent to Pokémon: Mewtwo Returns (2001) and Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2001). Of course, there’s not a lot to write down house about from a essential perspective in both of these regards. But general, this month didn’t want it — it was brimming with high quality nearly in all places else.
Ocean’s Eleven is among the many most well-crafted heist movies ever made, satiating the wants of crime movie followers in all places. Black Hawk Down has gone down as among the finest warfare films of the century. And whereas Ali isn’t the best drama the trade has ever seen, it was nonetheless a well-enough-regarded challenge to excite the followers of sports activities movies on the market.
And after all, The Fellowship of the Ring is maybe the best fantasy movie to grace the silver display. That’s fairly the number of style. And when accounting for extra dramatic, literary-styled tasks like A Beautiful Mind, Gosford Park, and The Royal Tenenbaums, there must be little doubt that December 2001 is the best month within the historical past film theaters inside the United States.